Downloading camcorder videos

[miket82]

Here's the system.
Win 7 Enterprise, 8Gb RAM, 1Tb HDD, AM3+ processor running at 4000, 3 port firewire card, 2 monitors, the graphics system runs DX10 no problem, 8 1Tb usb HDDs running from powered hub.
I have 3 camcorders all using the same video cassette type (Canon, Panasonic, Sony).
I can see each on the devices and printers window and the IEEE 1394A devices are reporting no errors. Have tried each separately, all refuse to be seen by the software.
Using either Adobe 2 (yes I know its old but it works) or MS Live Movieplayer each does not see any of the cameras. The cameras worked with the software on an old XP system. Where am I going wrong?

 

[Sub Styler]

"Windows 7 only detects firewire devices when at least one of them is drawing power from the computer (i.e. attached with a 6-pin cable). Until then the controller will simply idle.
An alternate solution, although awkward, is to disable and re-enable firewire in the device manager each session"

to quote James Shield from this thread.